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Thailand is now being noticed as a strong Badminton playing nation

To me, Thailand has always been a strong Badminton nation. Now that Thailand has won the Silver medal at the 2010 Asian Games, we find interesting comments.

Here is one from the Chinese Badminton team/players.

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Thailand emerge as major badminton force

GUANGZHOU: Thailand's success in the team badminton at the Asian Games shows they could be a major threat in coming years, Thai officials say, a claim echoed by opposing players and coaches.

An inexperienced Thai women's team were well beaten by hosts China 3-0 in the final on Monday, but the silver medal was far more than the unheralded side expected.

The final saw 15-year-old Ratchanok Intanon, the World Junior Championship singles winner, take the first game against world number one Wang Xin, before the Chinese emerged a 20-22, 21-17, 21-14 winner.

"My opponent was very aggressive and I felt pressured throughout the match," said Wang.

"She is not tall but she was very aggressive in her shots and she was very powerful. She could become a major opponent because she is still young."

China coach Li Yongbo said despite winning gold with ease in the women's team event, his staff could learn from blooding youngsters so early.

"We can see very clearly that badminton is improving in the world and more and more countries are making improvements so we are going to face more and more challenges, so we need to work hard." said Li.

"Thai players have improved a lot in the past few years, especially in the women's singles. They have shown great ability and potential here."

Charoen Wattanasin, president of the Badminton Association of Thailand, was delighted with how the Thai shuttlers had performed so far at the Games.

"In the past, we couldn't beat Malaysia on the men's side and our women's team couldn't beat Japan and Indonesia -- but now we can," he told the China Daily.

August 19, 2010 - Thailand struck it rich at the Singapore Indoor Stadium when they won two gold medals in the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore.

Pisit Poodchalat and Sapsiree Taerattanachai were the heroes as they played their hearts out to an appreciative crowd which included International Olympic Committee president Dr Jacques Rogge and Badminton World Federation president Dr Kang Young Joong.

The inaugural Games features only the boy's and girl's singles.

Sapsiree started the ball rolling for Thailand when she beat China’s Deng Xuan 21-14, 21-17 to take the girl’s singles gold.

With fists clenched and pumping into the air each time she won a point, Sapsiree had an answer for everything that Deng Xuan threw at her to leave the Chinese shaking her head in disbelief at times.

“I am proud of my achievement here and even prouder to hear the national anthem of Thailand played here in the Youth Olympics,” said Sapsiree, 18.

“This is the first Youth Olympic Games and I am also proud to be its first winner in badminton. Hopefully, this win will spur the popularity and growth of badminton in my country.”

Thursday’s results mean that Thailand can now boast of having the World Junior champion in girl’s singles via Ratchanok Inthanon and the Youth Olympic Games gold medalists in Sapsiree and Pisit.

Ratchanok, who won the World Junior title in Mexico in April, is ineligible for the Youth Olympic Games as she is underage. She is 15.

But it was Pisit who stole the show as the 18-year-old showed great maturity and court craft to beat a hapless H.S. Prannoy of India.

Prannoy played to his strengths, suing delicate net shots and smashes but Pisit was more than equal to the task. In fact, anything that Prannoy could do, Pisit did better to win in straight games, 21-15, 21-16.

“I was motivated by Sapsiree’s win and I did not want to let my country down,” said Pisit.

“I hope this win is the start of better things to come for my badminton career and I it will also spur me to work harder to improve my game,’ said Pisit.

Do you mean the coach who you saw on tele with Porntip yesterday?
If yes his name is "Udom Luangphetcharaporn", he is one of a Thailand NT coach.

I haven't have many opportunity to watch many match but I had also seen Pramote Teerawiwat and Pattapol Ngernsrisuk coach to the XD, WD and MD and I think Pattapol is also Ratchanok Inthanon's coach because Ratchanok is at Banthongyod Badminton Club where Pattapol is a son of the owner.

Porntip, Ratchanok and Salakjit, all trying to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics

Originally Posted by broadstairs

Do you mean the coach who you saw on tele with Porntip yesterday?
If yes his name is "Udom Luangphetcharaporn", he is one of a Thailand NT coach.

I haven't have many opportunity to watch many match but I had also seen Pramote Teerawiwat and Pattapol Ngernsrisuk coach to the XD, WD and MD and I think Pattapol is also Ratchanok Inthanon's coach because Ratchanok is at Banthongyod Badminton Club where Pattapol is a son of the owner.

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I didn't watch the match so I didn't know if Udom Luangphetcharaporn was there or not.

Anyway, it is now interesting for the 3 Thai girls, Porntip, Ratchanok and Salakjit, all trying to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics.
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Yep, it's very interesting to me too, Porntip is my Number one hope because she seems to have more stamina and I also think she is much fitter than last year. Sapsiree seems still a bit impatient when she plays and Ratchanok who I think she needs to gain more strength and please winning in 2 games Ratchanok seems to love playing in rubber.

Thailand Womens Team who attended the 2010 Asian Games

Originally Posted by broadstairs

Here is the photo of Udom (R) and Pattapol (L).

Yep, it's very interesting to me too, Porntip is my Number one hope because she seems to have more stamina and I also think she is much fitter than last year. Sapsiree seems still a bit impatient when she plays and Ratchanok who I think she needs to gain more strength and please winning in 2 games Ratchanok seems to love playing in rubber.

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Thanks for the photo broadstairs.

I have a photo of the Thailand Womens Team who attended the 2010 Asian Games. They were the runners-up at Badminton there.
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